During a recent trip down to Washington, DC I stopped by the National Mall to tour the astonishingly energy efficient homes on display as part of the Department of Energy’s Solar Decathalon.  The Solar Decathlon is one of the DOE’s signature programs to promote cutting edge design and green techonology.

One of the best ways to save on your energy bills is to limit the amount of energy you use in the bathroom. Easily save money and energy in your bathroom by following these 9 simple steps.

Water heating is the second largest household energy expense, after heating and cooling. Cutting your shower time by two minutes can reduce your water use and lower your energy bills.

Lowering your water heater’s thermostat to 120 °F can help you to improve the performance of your water heater and cut your water heating costs. If you plan to be away from home for at least three days, turn off your water heater or turn the thermostat down to the lowest setting.

Lighting accounts for about 10 percent of your household electricity costs. Turning the lights off when you leave the bathroom is an important energy conservation measure.

Switching to energy-saving light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to start saving energy in your bathroom. When shopping for light bulbs, look for the Energy Star label to identify energy-saving products. For further energy savings, choose LED light bulbs, which typically use 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs.

Leaving your bathroom extractor fan on too long can remove heat from your home. Save energy by turning off your fan when you leave the bathroom.

Ventilating your bathroom can go a long way toward creating an energy-efficient environment; research reveals that it costs less to cool or heat a dry environment than a damp one. Improve the ventilation in your bathroom by leaving a window open when you’re taking a bath or shower.

Sealing any air leaks with caulk, weatherstrips, or sealant can cut your energy costs and create a healthier indoor environment. For best results, focus on filling gaps around your windows and plumbing.

Older water heaters can use more energy than new ones, so replacing them can help you cut your energy bills. When shopping for a new water heater, consider the size, fuel type, and energy efficiency before making a purchase.

Leaving appliances plugged in wastes energy, even when they’re not being used. Be sure to unplug your appliances after using them, or switch them off at the wall.

Learning how to conserve energy in the bathroom doesn’t have to be a challenge. By following the above tips, you can maximize your energy savings and cut your energy bills.

Pool lighting makes up a major part of your overall swimming pool costs, so it’s important that you figure out which type works best before you install them. The two major types of pool lighting are in ground lighting and above ground lighting, and your budget, needs, and preferences all factor largely into deciding which type to install. We’ll help you break down all types of pool lights to help you make the best choice for your Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC home—just keep reading!

One of the biggest benefits of in ground pool lighting is its streamlined look and even lighting. The two primary options for in ground pool lighting are LED lighting and fiber optic lighting (we’ll get into the pros and cons of each further down in this blog post).

Usually much cheaper than in ground pool lighting, above ground pool lighting is perfect for DC area homeowners looking to install a pool on a budget. There are a number of different ways to install above ground pool lighting, including:

Floating Pool Lighting

Floating pool lighting is exactly what it looks like. This type of pool lighting involves lights that bob up and down on the surface of your pool. It is available in a variety of colors and shapes, from orbs, cubes, and pods to more creative features like jellyfish shapes, flowers, and more. Floating lights can be solar powered and tend to use bright LEDs, but since they move around they don’t provide perfectly even lighting.

Magnetic Pool Lighting

If you have a soft-sided pool, magnetic pool lights are perfect for you. These two-part lights can be attached to the liner of your pool for an in ground pool lighting appearance with above ground ease.

The two major types of in ground pool lighting are LED and fiber optic, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages for homeowners in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Consider the following:

LED lighting – LED lights are housed in waterproof bulbs that can be removed to change the bulb. The bulb itself should last around 10,000 hours, however, so you won’t need to perform even this simple task very often. One to two bulbs should be enough to illuminate your entire swimming pool.

Fiber optic lighting – bulbs for fiber optic pool lights are located out of the water, making them even easier to access and replace than LED pool lights. To illuminate a whole pool, you’ll likely need more than one fiber optic light, though, which can get expensive.

LED lighting – LED lights range from $400 – $900 installed, and bulbs can last anywhere from 10 – 15 years. Replacement bulbs will run you about $200 – $400.

Fiber optic lighting – a fiber optic pool lighting system will require a fan to keep the light cool, meaning fiber optic pool lighting will be more expensive than LED lighting—think anywhere from $900 – $1,500 per bulb system. Bulbs typically last about 3 – 7 years, and replacing them will cost about $200 – $300.

LED lights – despite having the lighting components under water, LED lights are very safe and have a very low risk of failure. In addition, LED lights use very low voltage, which mitigates the risk further.

Fiber optic lighting – since there are no electrical components housed in the water, fiber optic lighting has close to zero risk of electric shock.

LED lights – LED lights can be used to fill your whole pool with light and illuminate the whole thing at once. They can also change colors to create a truly unique look for your backyard.

Fiber optic lighting – these types of pool lights aren’t as good at illuminating the whole pool at once, but they can create points of light to give your pool a sparkling, starry appearance.

In purely practical terms, LED lights have the edge over fiber optic lights—they are less expensive, easier to maintain, and provide much brighter illumination. But there are advantages to both types of pool lights, and Kolb Electric can help you find the perfect fit for you and your home. We can also provide you with further pool lighting tips here.

If you’re a busy person, constantly running from one place to another, it can be easy to forget some of the little things you leave behind at home. The thermostat, for example, controls perhaps the two biggest energy hogs in your home, the air conditioning and thermostats help improve your home comfort by offering advanced temperature and climate features as well as remote control that simply cannot be beat. Chances are, you are one of many Americans who uses a smart phone, tablet, or computer with internet access every day. A Nest thermostat learns your preferences for daily operation, but can still be controlled from far away if your plans change throughout the day! Here’s a bit more on those features.